IRF4 and Stroke: The inhibition of IRF5 expression and promotion of IRF4 expression in lamina propria monocytes induces macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype, which improves the inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease27, and increased IRF4 expression results in enhanced M2 activation, reduced pro-inflammatory response, and improved stroke prognosis, whereas downregulation of IRF4 results in increased IRF5 expression, enhanced M1 activation, increased pro-inflammatory response, and functional poorer recovery28.